How the LLLI Board Works from Year to Year
Susan R. Deo
LLLI Board of Directors
From: LEAVEN, Vol. 40 No. 4, August-September 2004, pp. 74, 94-95.
The LLLI Board starts its
"Board Year" with a Planning Day, held the day after the Board’s
Annual Session, the first session of the calendar year. This year our
Planning Day took place on Monday, February 23. To plan our work for
the year, we looked at: (1) what we accomplished during the past year,
(2) recommendations provided by previous committees and workgroups,
and (3) the needs of our organization. From this information, we listed
goals for the year and prioritized the work.
Most of the work of the La
Leche League International Board of Directors is accomplished via committees
and workgroups. Some of this work is governed by our LLLI Bylaws, and
the LLLI Policies and Standing Rules (PSR) govern some. Since LLLI is
incorporated in the state of Illinois, USA Standing Committees and Committees
of the Board need to follow Illinois Statutes governing nonprofit corporations.
Workgroups change from year to year and are more task-oriented. They
do not have the same legal requirements as Standing Committees and Committees.
Once we determine the tasks for each committee and workgroup, Board
members share their interests and preferences by volunteering for assignments.
The two Vice Chairmen then work with the Chairman of the Board to assign
a Board member as chair/facilitator for each committee and workgroup.
The chair/facilitator of the committee or workgroup takes primary responsibility
for its work during the coming year, until the next Annual Session.
Her first task, in consultation with the Vice Chairmen, is to invite
people to join her committee or workgroup.
In addition to Board members,
Leaders, members, and other interested parties may be members of committees
or workgroups. They have volunteered or been invited because they have
a particular interest or expertise that is desirable for accomplishment
of the committee/ workgroup goals. According to Illinois statutes, Board
members must be a majority on LLLI Standing Committees. Our Bylaws currently
list Audit, Bylaws, Finance, Personnel, Program Services, and Resource
Development as Standing Committees (Article VIII, Section 2). The Executive
Committee and the Nominating Committee are the exceptions, in that their
membership is made up of only Board members and membership is determined
by election (see LLLI Bylaws, Article VIII, Section 1 and Section 4,
respectively). Individual LLLI staff members also serve as staff liaisons
on some of the Board committees. Committees and workgroups consult with
the LLL community, the LLLI Advisory Councils, and other Board members
as they proceed with their work over the year. One month before each
Board meeting, every active committee and workgroup presents a preliminary
report to the full Board for discussion and questions/comments. Reports
presented at Board meetings then become appendices to the minutes of
that meeting.
Are you interested in joining
a Board Committee or Workgroup? We welcome LLL Leaders and community
members to participate with us. We appreciate your ideas and experiences
in this important work for the future of LLLI. After the Annual Session,
each committee/workgroup disbands, so your commitment would be for no
more than a year.
Following are brief descriptions
of many of the Board committees and workgroups for the current year,
including the names and photos of the Chair or Co-Chairs. If you have
questions or would like to volunteer to help, please feel free to contact
the Chairs or Co-Chairs (see sidebar for contact information or visit
the BOD Web page at www.lalecheleague.org /BOD/BOD.html).
Executive Committee: Marcia
Lutostanski, Board Chairman
The Executive Committee consists
of the Board’s elected officers. This Committee holds certain legal
responsibilities, particularly in emergency situations when the Board
cannot hold a meeting (See LLLI Bylaws, Article VIII, Section 1). Members
of the 2004-2005 Executive Committee are: Marcia Lutostanski, Chairman;
Heidi BK Sloss, First Vice Chairman; Nan Jolly, Second Vice Chairman;
Sharon Vines, Secretary; Sharon Matuszek, Treasurer; and Donna Cookson
Martin, Member at Large to the Executive Committee. As Chairman of the
Board, Marcia is an ex officio member of all committees and workgroups.
Each committee and workgroup (with the exception of the Executive Committee
and the Nominating Committee) also has a Vice Chairman serving as a
support person. The Secretary and Treasurer have significant responsibilities
in addition to their committee assignments. The Member at Large takes
on special projects as needed.
Nominating Committee: Sharon
Vines
The Board elects the members
of the Nominating Committee. Members can serve no longer than two consecutive
years (See Bylaws, Article VIII, Section 4). In addition to Sharon,
members for this year include Betty Crase, Jean Moneyhon, LaJuana Oswalt,
and Rachel O’Leary. The Nominating Committee is responsible for
presenting names of candidates for membership on the Board and a slate
of officers to the Board for a vote at the Annual Session. The Committee
notifies the LLLI Zones regarding nomination procedures and the qualifications,
experience, and commitment that the Board is looking for in Zone nominees.
Then they work with the Zones as they prepare to submit nominees to
the Board. In recent years, the Nominating Committee has also been responsible
for activities related to Board orientation, development, and evaluation.
Action Committee: Cathy
Liles and Mimi de Maza
The Action Committee advises
the Board on relevant political and consumer activities that might result
in either legislative or financial policy and/or program support for
breastfeeding in both national and international institutions and organizations.
Several years ago the Committee developed a group to advise them on
matters related to the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breast
Milk Substitutes. The Committee Chairs invite people from around the
world who are familiar with the International Code to be part of the
LLLI WHO Code Advisors. The Advisors assist with Leaders’ questions
relating to the International Code. The Advisors are invited for one-year
terms. (For more information about the International Code, see Leaven
April-May 2004 Board Column by Rachel O’Leary.)
Audit Committee: Jane Tuttle
and LaJuana Oswalt
Enlisting a firm to conduct
the independent audit and overseeing this work are very important functions
of all nonprofit boards of directors. The primary responsibilities of
the Audit Committee are to present to the Board: (1) a recommendation
of an independent public accountant to be employed for preparation of
the audit for the current fiscal year, and (2) the auditor’s report
and any response to questions regarding contents and procedures used.
Bylaws Committee: Carmen
Vandenabeele and LaJuana Oswalt
The Bylaws Committee advises
the Board on matters pertaining to the basic rules of governance of
the organization, and consults with appropriate legal counsel, as needed,
to ensure that the Bylaws conform with laws of the state of Illinois,
USA. Last year’s Committee collected comments on the LLLI purpose
from the LLL community, considered purposes of other nonprofit organizations,
and facilitated many months of Board discussion on the purpose of LLLI.
This culminated in the first reading of a proposed amendment to the
Purpose statement in the Bylaws. This year’s Committee will continue
collecting comments regarding the proposed amendment to the Purpose
before the second reading at the August Board meeting (see article in
Leaven June-July 2004 about the February 2004 Board Actions). The PSR
Workgroup, a part of the Bylaws Committee, is charged with reviewing
the policies in the LLLI Policies and Standing Rules (PSR), to ensure
these policies are up-to-date, relevant, and appropriate for the global
LLLI organization.
Finance Committee: Sharon
Matuszek
The Finance Committee is
responsible for advising the Board on matters pertaining to the fiscal
and/or financial operation of LLLI. This year the Committee will also
be reviewing financial policies of the organization and developing any
further policies deemed necessary. (See discussion of some policies
that were changed or added in February 2004 in the Leaven June-July
2004 Board Column.)
Budget Subcommittee of the Finance Committee: Cathy Liles
The Budget Subcommittee of the Finance Committee works with the LLLI
Finance Director, Executive Director, and other staff Directors in preparing
the LLLI Budget for the next fiscal year. The LLLI Budget is presented,
with recommendations, to the Board and the Board votes on the budget
at the Annual Session.
Personnel Committee: Betty
Crase and Donna Cookson Martin
The Personnel Committee advises
the Board on matters pertaining to LLLI personnel, both paid and volunteer.
This year the primary responsibility of this Committee will be to conduct
the annual Board evaluation and appraisal of the Executive Director
(ED), with assistance of the Appraisal Committee, a special committee
which consists of the Chairman, Vice Chairmen, and Standing Committee
Chairmen. (For more information about the ED Appraisal, see Appendix
14 of the PSR, Guidelines for the Appraisal of the Executive Director).
Executive Director Transition
and Support Team: Susan Deo
The Transition Team is a
group formed for this particular year to help introduce our Executive
Director, Hedy Nuriel, to the LLL community, and to support and mentor
her as she gains a more thorough understanding of our organization.
Members of the team are: Betty Crase; Jane Tuttle; Lynne Coates; Marcia
Lutostanski; Nan Jolly; Sharon Matuszek; and Hugh Switzer, a member
of the Management Advisory Council.
Mothering Experience Workgroup:
Donna Cookson Martin and Phoebe Kerness
This new Work-group of Board
members and others is in the process of being established. The purpose
will be to coordinate discussions throughout the LLLI community about
mothering experience as it pertains to a mother’s eligibility to
apply for leadership.
Program Services Committee:
Sharon Matuszek
The Program Services Committee
advises the Board on matters pertaining to the delivery of LLLI volunteer
programs and services. For the past few years, workgroups and subcommittees
have done most of the work of this Committee. The Chair of the Committee,
therefore, has been primarily responsible for overseeing the activities
of the workgroups. Below is information about several of the important
workgroups for this year.
Letters to LLLI Workgroup:
Cathy Liles and Sharon Vines
The LLLI Board receives many
letters from Leaders, members, and other interested individuals. This
"communications" workgroup is responsible for coordinating
Board responses to the letters we receive. Often, the Letters Workgroup
members compose letters; other times they invite another Board member
to write a response. If the letter is directed to the Board, replies
are always shared with the full Board. When appropriate, the Co-Chairs
forward the letter to an LLLI staff member or LLL administrator if s/he
is better able to address the question or concern.
LLLI Conference Liaison:
Donna Cookson Martin
As the Board Liaison to the
LLLI Conference Committee, Donna participates in 2005 LLLI Conference
Team planning meetings and shares those planning activities with the
Board.
World Assembly Workgroup:
LaJuana Oswalt and Phoebe Kerness
This Workgroup is responsible
for preliminary planning of the 2005 World Assembly, which will be held
the day before the 2005 LLLI Conference. Next year’s Workgroup
will be responsible for completing the planning, for organizing this
Board-hosted event, and for conducting the evaluation of the 2005 World
Assembly.
Resource Development Committee:
Jean Moneyhon and Susan Deo
The Resource Development
Committee advises and makes recommendations to the Board on matters
pertaining to donations and grants and public relations; they also coordinate
Board participation in fundraising for LLLI. The Committee liaises with
the LLLI Funding Development Department, consults/discusses fundraising
activities, and assists in building LLLI relationships with donors.
It also facilitates the Board Campaign to raise funds in the last quarter
of the calendar year.
Commercial Relations Workgroup:
Rachel O’Leary
The Commercial Relations
Workgroup facilitates discussions within the LLLI community about working
with commercial entities (in relationships such as sponsorships, partnerships,
corporate donations, etc.).
Planning Committee: Nan
Jolly
The Planning Committee facilitates
the Board’s planning for the future of the organization. For the
past few years, most of the work of this Committee has been accomplished
through various workgroups. The Chair of the Committee, therefore, has
been primarily responsible for overseeing the activities of the workgroups.
Below is information about several of the important workgroups for this
year.
LLL USA Workgroup: Jane
Tuttle, Heidi BK Sloss, Rachel O’Leary, and Susan Deo
This Workgroup is liaising
with the Executive Director, the LLL USA Steering Committee and USA
Leaders as LLLI progresses toward a global and distributed organization.
This is the first year that the World Breastfeeding Week Celebration
has been the responsibility of a group of Leaders who were drawn into
the process by their interest and passion. Look for other USA based
programs and activities to be done in similar ways.
Renewal/Framework Workgroup:
LaJuana Oswalt and Rachel O’Leary
This Workgroup facilitates
the work of the Board in preparation for the inaugural activities of
the Voluntary Interim Framework.
Professional Advisory Board
Committee: Phoebe Kerness
The Professional Advisory
Board (PAB) Committee advises the Board on matters pertaining to the
Professional Advisory Board (Health Advisory Council, Legal Advisory
Council, and Management Advisory Council) and the Medical Associates.
The Committee is currently reviewing results of a survey conducted last
year to find out about professional advisory boards throughout the global
LLL organization and is exploring ways to streamline appointments and
renewals to the PAB. Also, via the PAB Committee, Mimi de Maza, LLLI
Representative to the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners
(IBLCE) Board, communicates with the LLLI Board of Directors about the
work of that Board.How to Contact Board Officers and Committee/Workgroup
Chairs
Betty Crase Personnel - bcrase at llli.org
Carmen Vandenabeele Bylaws - cvandenabeele at llli.org
Cathy Liles Action, Budget, Letters to LLLI - cliles at llli.org
Donna Cookson Martin Member at Large, LLLI Conference Liaison, Mothering
Experience, Personnel - dcmartin at llli.org
Heidi BK Sloss 1st Vice Chairman, LLL USA - hbksloss at llli.org
Jane Tuttle Audit, LLL USA - jtuttle at llli.org
Jean Moneyhon Resource Development - jmoneyhon at llli.org
LaJuana Oswalt Audit, Bylaws, Renewal/Framework, World Assembly - loswalt at llli.org
Marcia Lutostanski Chairman of the Board, ex officio member all committees/workgroups
- mlutostanski at llli.org
Mimi de Maza Action, LLLI representative to IBLCE Board - mdemaza at llli.org
Nan Jolly 2nd Vice Chairman, Planning - njolly at llli.org
Phoebe Kerness Mothering Experience, PAB, World Assembly - pkerness at llli.org
Rachel O’Leary Commercial Relations, LLL USA, Renewal/Framework
- roleary at llli.org
Sharon Matuszek Treasurer, Finance, Program Services - smatuszek at llli.org
Sharon Vines Secretary ,Letters to LLLI, Nominating Committee - svines at llli.org
Susan Deo ED Transition Team, LLL USA, Resource Development - sdeo at llli.org
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:32:12 UTC 2007.
